LIVERPOOL FC will have to spend £18m if they want to persuade Ajax into parting with striker Luis Suarez during this month’s transfer window.

But the Anfield outfit will be encouraged by reports that the Uruguay international has told his club he would be prepared to move to England should a suitable deal be thrashed out.

Suarez has fallen out of favour at Ajax with new manager, former Holland international Frank de Boer, stripping the forward of the club captaincy after he was banned by the Dutch FA in November for seven games for biting an opponent on the shoulder.

Liverpool’s hopes of signing Suarez have been bolstered by Tottenham withdrawing their interest and the belief the striker would prefer to join a club with a number of Spanish-speaking players.

Ajax had valued the 23-year-old at £35m in the wake of his World Cup heroics where – thanks in no small part to his infamous last-minute handball in the quarter-final against Ghana – he helped Uruguay to a fourth-placed finish, but are now willing to accept half that amount.

John Henry and Tom Werner are on Merseyside for a 10-day stay that will include talks over releasing funds for transfer targets.

And while reports yesterday of a move for Aston Villa’s Stewart Downing are wide of the mark, team-mate Ashley Young is a possible target while Liverpool manager Kenny Dalglish is contemplating bringing another Villa player, left-back Stephen Warnock, back to Anfield on loan until the end of the season.

Liverpool have also been tracking Wigan Athletic winger Charles N’Zgobia as a cheaper alternative to £15m-rated Young.